Andrey Chepurnoy, former head of the All-Russian public organization “IVA – War Invalids,” and Valery Belyalov, general director of ANO “Center for Medical and Social Rehabilitation of War Veterans “Veteran-Rus’,” have been detained on suspicion of fraud. The two are accused of stealing property valued at over 1 billion rubles.

The detentions were carried out by officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, in conjunction with the FSB and the GUEBiPK of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Irina Volk, the official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, announced the detentions on June 2.

The investigation centers around the alleged illegal seizure of 48 real estate properties belonging to the Center for Medical Rehabilitation of Internationalist Soldiers “Rus” in 2017. Authorities believe that the decision to transfer the property was made in violation of the organization’s Charter during an illegitimate meeting.

Although the Ruza District Court deemed the transaction illegal in May 2023, the property has not yet been returned to its rightful owner.

During searches conducted at the suspects’ locations, law enforcement seized documents, computers, and communication devices. A measure of restraint in the form of detention has been chosen for both suspects. The investigation intends to petition the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow for the arrest of the Rus sanatorium’s property.

It is worth noting that Andrey Chepurnoy has a prior conviction for embezzling funds from the “War Invalids” organization. In 2019, the Volokolamsk court sentenced him to a two-year suspended sentence.